Digital Commons Network^™

Attitudes Of Pre-Service Physical Educators At A Faith-Based University Toward Individuals With Disabilities., James E. Schoffstall

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an undergraduate adapted physical education course on the attitudes of pre-service physical educators toward individuals with disabilities. The participants for this study were 108 students enrolled in undergraduate adapted physical education courses at a faith-based university. The Physical Educators Attitude toward Teaching Individuals with Disabilities, third edition pre- and post-intervention was utilized to assess any changes in the participants’ attitudes toward individuals with disabilities.

Statistically significant differences were found between the participants’ pre- and post-intervention attitudinal scores on all measured areas (i.e. emotional disturbance, learning disabled, mild intellectual disability, …

Developing A Purpose Driven Model For Today’S Korea Evangelical Holiness Church Pastors-Teachers, Seung Min Chang

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This thesis is to develop a purpose driven model for the pastors-teachers of the Korea Evangelical Holiness Church. This project explains that being a purpose driven education ministry means following the biblical principles behind the movement rather than copying specific characteristics that are unique to the Saddleback Church. In that view, this paper discusses how to implement Rick Warren's paradigm in the educational setting of the KEHC that has its own theological and cultural distinctives. Two kinds of surveys show that the denominational educational needs can be effectively covered through the results of the implementation.

Moral Self-Concept Of Public And Christian School Teachers In An Atlanta Metropolitan Area County, Timothy Reid Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Historically, the importance of moral and ethical behavior has helped govern the educational process in the United States. The research shows that students notice and are affected by the moral character of a teacher as it is conveyed by a teacher’s behavior and lifestyle, both in and out of the classroom. This quantitative causal-comparative study, conducted in October and November of 2004, examined the moral self-concept of teachers as measured by the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale: Second Education (TSCS:2). The population consisted of 210 teachers from a metropolitan Atlanta county employed by public and Christian elementary and secondary schools. The investigation …

Father Presence Matters: A Case For Family, Marcia Redmon Miles

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Children from single parent homes experience disadvantages that often continue into adulthood. This qualitative dissertation project examines the pain and lived experiences of a family where father absence continued through three generations. Literature regarding father absence is reviewed, and the negative outcomes associated with fatherlessness are explored. This project combines a l2-week curriculum training, a 12-day Twelve-Step component, and a 12-month mentorship in a faith-based response to fatherlessness. The objective of this project is to reconnect fathers in a meaningful way with their children, ease pain and facilitate healing of all involved parties.

The Role Of The Pastor In Southern Baptist Churches: A Biblical View Versus A Prevailing View, Wilford A. Stone

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This project will address the role of the pastor by looking at the Biblical view of the role of the pastor and the prevailing view of the role of the pastor in the Southern Baptist Church. Biblical research will be conducted and will be presented in the Biblical view of the role of the pastor. Based on surveys sent to Southern Baptist pastors, Southern Baptist seminary students, and laity in Southern Baptist Churches, perspectives on the prevailing view of the role of the pastor will be presented. Then, the two views will be compared.

Characteristics Of A Healthy Church From The Seven Churches Of Asia That Can Apply To Yohan Tokyo Christ Church, Jong Yoon Kim

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to understand the characteristics of a healthy church from the seven churches of Asia, using Revelation 2-3 and to apply those characteristics to Yohan Tokyo Christ Church. The project carefully examines the characteristics of a healthy church from Jesus Christ’s commendations and condemnations to the seven churches of Asia. It also analyzes and evaluates current situation of the Yohan Tokyo Christ Church based on surveys. Five practical strategies for spiritual health development of the Yohan Tokyo Christ Church are offered. Those strategies will help the spiritual health of the Yohan Tokyo Christ Church and …

An Experimental Study Of The Effects Of Remote Intercessory Prayer On Depression, Jason Gary Wright

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The present study utilized a double-blind, controlled, pre-test/post-test design to examine the effect of remote intercessory prayer on 20 participants who received counseling for depression in various clinics throughout central Virginia. The researcher randomly drew from a pool of 20 numbers; participants given even numbers were assigned to the experimental group and were prayed for by assigned intercessors for 28 days. Participants given odd numbers were assigned to the control group and were not assigned intercessors. Twenty-eight days (or as soon a possible) after all participants took the first BDI-II (Beck Depression Inventory, second version) they completed the BDI-II for …

Distance Counseling: Perceived Advantages And Disadvantages Among Christian Counselors, Anthony J. Centore

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Not available.

Today’S Challenges And Resolutions Regarding Church Music, Philip R. Mcfarland

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this thesis is to first affirm the fact that music is one of the most powerful mediums that can control and influence people today. By emphasizing music’s impact, the objective for churches and pastors is to understand that although music plays a major part within church worship, it is only one of many functions of the church. This thesis will serve the purpose of helping pastors, church leaders, and Christians to understand the influence of music that can lead to potential challenges and problems, and to give biblically based, historical, and practical resolutions. Christians must not let …

“Waltzing With The Monster,” Interventions With The Substance-Abusing Adolescent For Pastors, Treatment Providers, And Family, Philip A. Watkins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The biblical story of the "Prodigal Son" is a universal experience made significantly more precarious by the use of mind altering chemicals. A review of the literature reveals that approximately half of all problems impacting American families are caused or exacerbated by the abuse of alcohol or other drugs. This project's focus is the impact of substance abuse on the developing adolescent. Chemical "hijacking" of the brain's pleasure centers and resultant dysfunction is examined. Primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention are discussed. Interventions which facilitate the young person's "homecoming" and implications for the community of faith are integrated.

The Effect Of Spiritual Attitudes On Female Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder, Ralph W. Fox Ii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study hypothesized that there is a relationship between religious orientation (conservative, moderate, or liberal) and the occurrence of Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) among Christian women. The participants of this study were 71 married Christian women who were patients from a Christian obstetrical! gynecological medical practice in southern Georgia and who volunteered for an anonymous survey. The survey instruments used in this study included the Sexual Self-Assessment Questionnaire, the Female Sexual Function Index, and the Christian Religious Orientation Scale. Demographic information was also gathered on each participant.

Results showed that all of the women had a conservative orientation and …

Developing A Spiritually-Formative Leadership Mentoring Ministry At Southwood Community Church, Aaron David Rock

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Mentoring is increasingly being recognized as a tool for advancing the God-initiated life-long quest for spiritual formation in newer believers. The purpose of this project is to develop a mentoring ministry at Southwood Community Church in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The project first explores biblical, historical and contemporary mentoring principles and strategies, develops mentors through a training course, and couples them up with a mentee. The mentor and mentee engage in a mentoring relationship with an assessment tool administered before and after a three-month mentoring process to evaluate the impact of the relationship upon the mentee.

Early Childhood Cognitive Development: A Descriptive Study On The Effectiveness Of Preschool Curricula, Alisa Shook Dyson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the lack of rigorous, systematic evaluation of preschool curricula utilizing three survey instruments developed by NSSE: Parent/Guardian Questionnaire, Staff Questionnaire, Program Specific Indicators o/Teaching and Organizational Effectiveness. The measures were designed to reflect the concepts of developmentally appropriate practices (DAP) as presented in the revised 2005 NAEYC guidelines, Association of Christian Schools International Intended Student Outcomes, and The National Study of School Evaluation (NSSE) accreditation assessment instruments. Two hundred surveys completed by nonprofit, Christian early childhood center administrators across the United States were utilized in this study. Quantitative data presented utilizing NSSE's psychometric instruments provides the information …

The Perceived Effectiveness Of A Beginning Teacher Mentoring Program In Central Virginia, Toni M. Flanagan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This descriptive study examined the perceived effectiveness of a beginning teacher mentoring program in a public school district in Central Virginia. A total of 87 participants, including beginning teachers, new-to-district teachers, mentor teachers, and administrators were surveyed about the perceived effectiveness of the teacher mentoring program and general demographic information. In addition, 17 of the survey respondents were interviewed as a follow-up to the study. A 5-point scaled survey questionnaire based on Virginia’s guidelines for teacher mentoring programs was the primary means of assessment. Results from the study indicated that the teachers and administrators surveyed had overall positive perceptions of …

Analysis Of Reading Comprehension And Thinking Process , Kevin D. Washburn

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

According to the U.S. Department of Education, middle school literacy research in four areas is currently mandated: neurocognitive elements, instructional processes, instructional materials, and professional development. This study presents appropriate statistical analysis of fifth grade student gains in reading comprehension and thinking processes. The results suggest reading programs based on findings from the four key areas of research produce significantly greater student achievement in reading comprehension and thought processes than programs not based on findings from the key research areas. The study includes a Research-Based Rubric for Reading Comprehension Components, detailing findings from the four research areas. This rubric serves …

Internet Training For Lay Leaders To Meet Pastoral Care Needs, David W. Peterson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A review of current literature and ministry websites demonstrates that very little material is available online to assist ministry leaders and teachers with the pastoral needs issues they face in their ministries. Most ministry websites are information based rather than education based. Based on surveys and questionnaires sent to leaders and teachers, the project reviews educational website material and takes the reader though the process of developing a ministry educational website for their own ministry. The result is an educational website that may be further developed to equip for meeting pastoral care needs encountered in ministry.

Continuous Quality Improvement: A Two-Year Analysis Of One School’S Achievement During Initial Implementation, Peggy Garrett Coffey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine two intervention programs to determine if participation in one or both programs affected student achievement. Both programs addressed student achievement in reading, language arts, and mathematics. The programs emphasized score disaggregation, teacher instruction, weekly assessments, tutorial and enrichment classes on the academic concepts. This study compared ninety-six fifth grade student scores who completed both intervention programs. The hypotheses were tested using paired t-tests. Participation in the first intervention program showed a statistical significant difference at the .05 level for language arts and no statistically difference for reading or mathematics. Participation in both …

A Consideration Of Church Planting Through Radio Broadcasting In Thailand, Byung Jo Chang

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation focuses on the meaning of church planting, and the successful church planning through radio broadcasting and its benefit in Thai missions. Radio broadcasting is the best way of opening up the door for spreading the gospel to start church planting. The research focuses on founding and organizing the broadcasting station in the hopes of giving non Christians opportunities to hear the gospel for the first time, and helping them to become Chris like.

The potential radio broadcasting missions carry, the meaning of it all, and the efficiency behind planting a church through the broadcasting missions is examined. These …

Introversion And Self-Advocacy: Concomitant Predictors Of End-Of-Year Attrition Rates For College Freshmen With Learning Disabilities, Shirley E. Tucker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This attrition research investigated the social aspect of two independent variables, introversion and self-advocacy, and explored whether they functioned as a concomitant unit to reliably predict end-of-year attrition rates for college freshmen with learning disabilities. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator categorized subjects dichotomously as introverts or extraverts while the Tucker Self-Advocacy Tool used a continuous scale to indicate the degree of self-advocacy each subject exhibited.

Several statistical procedures facilitated this correlational study: the Fisher's Exact Test compared the percentage of dropouts between the introvert and extrovert groups while a two-sample t-test compared the average self-advocacy score between the group that dropped …

The Relationship Between Student Perceptions Of Parental Involvement And Grade Eight Reading And Math Achievement In A Rural Georgia Middle School, Wayne A. Hickman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between students' perceptions of parental involvement and grade 8 reading and math achievement as measured by the Georgia Criterion Reference Competency Test (CRCT). This study relied on a theoretical framework developed by Epstein (1987). This framework includes a six-part categorization of parent involvement typologies (Type 1—parenting, Type 2—communication, Type 3—volunteering, Type 4—learning at home, Type 5—decision-making, and Type 6—collaborating), which were used as the basis for data collection and analysis. The High School and Family Partnerships: Questionnaires for Teachers, Parents, and Students were developed by Epstein and Salinas (1993) for …

A Chronological Presentation Of The Writings Of Elmer L. Towns From 1999-2005, Noting The Interrelatedness Of His Teachings And Writings From 1980-2005, Gabriel Benjamin Etzel

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This project will analyze the contributions of Elmer L. Towns to six distinct disciplines, i.e., Church Growth, Sunday School, Christian Education, Bible Study and Exposition, Christian Life, and Theology. This is the third in a series of projects centered on the writing ministry of Elmer L. Towns. This project will examine the writing ministry of Elmer L. Towns from 1999-2005, and also include an analysis of his teaching ministry within higher educational settings. In addition, conclusions will be drawn from a survey of supervisors of the teachings of Elmer Towns from 1980-2005.

A Model For Pastoral Care And Shepherding Of A Large And Growing Church, Aaron J. Rummage

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study addresses the challenges related to the care giving ministry of New Lire Church located in LaPlata, Maryland. This revitalized church has grown from 60 attendees in 1999 to over 1,100 by 2004. The growth has led to many challenges, including the development of a shepherding strategy that will meet the needs of the congregation. The leadership team sought to answer the question of an appropriate shepherding strategy through examining scriptures, reviewing the history of shepherding and evaluating current models of care giving used in large Wesleyan churches. Additionally, a survey of pastoral care methodology employed in large Wesleyan …

The Complexities Of Training National Leaders During The Twentieth Century That Led To A Vast World-Wide Shortage Of Trained Leaders For The Twenty-First Century Church, Francis O. Patterson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There is worldwide evidence of a severe modern-day shortage of trained leadership in the church. The purpose of this thesis project is to understand the reasons for the shortage and suggest achievable solutions. Yes, the army of missionaries deployed around the world has accomplished great things for Christ. However, this vast shortage of qualified national leaders came about due to a lack of vision and poor recruitment of theologians and missionary candidates. While missionaries have done a great job planting churches, most were unprepared to train national leaders for these churches. Further, for the last thirty-five years, missiologists have debated …

A Spiritual Disciplines-Based Discipleship Curriculum For The Local Church, Steven Hugh Mathews

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The practice of the spiritual disciplines in local Baptist churches is in decline, and there does not exist a curriculum designed to implement the disciplines into the public teaching ministry of the local church. The purpose of this project is to design, implement, and evaluate such a curriculum, with respect to participants' understanding of, motivation to practice, and perceived effectiveness in, ten key spiritual disciplines. The curriculum is evaluated by a diagnostic tool based on Bloom's Taxonomy, and is intended to measure increases in knowledge, motivation, and effectiveness.

Toward The Establishment Of A Worship Theology In The Presbyterian Church Of Korea, Jong Bin Rhee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study is to critically analyze the existing problems of worship in the Presbyterian Church of Korea and develop worship theology with biblical, historical and liturgical insights. The biblical foundation for an understanding of worship theology is laid by examining a representative cross section of classic passage and pertinent liturgical tests. A brief sketch is made of the Reformed tradition. especially Calvin and Presbyterian in the British Isles and America. It will also analyze current problems in the worship of the Korean Presbyterian churches, and includes some suggestions for establishment of worship theology in the Presbyterian Church …

Family And Consumer Sciences In Higher Education: Common Elements In Undergraduate Curriculum, Susan Lovett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study of undergraduate programs was undertaken to create a current portrait of Family and Consumer Sciences programs and to determine whether common ground exists among the various academic units particularly in the area of curriculum content. The thirty four schools having accreditation with SACS and AAFCS were chosen as the population to be studied. Two lists of curricular element categories were created to evaluate the programs: a 28 item list derived from historical categorizations used in professional journals and educational reporting and a 16 item list taken from the national standards for FCS in secondary programs. The subject matter …

The Influence Of Parenting Styles On The Development Of Moral Judgment In College Level Adolescents, Scott M. Hawkins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research project addresses the relationship between parenting styles and the development of moral judgment in college students enrolled in a four year private University in Central Virginia. The purpose of this study is to identify the extent to which parenting styles are one of the "building blocks" for the development of moral judgment in adolescents. The instruments used are the Parental Authority Questionnaire (Buri, 1988) and the Defining Issues Test - II (Rest, 1999). The researcher hypothesized that the levels of moral judgment found in college students who perceive that they were parented by parents utilizing an Authoritative parenting …

A Multidimensional Assessment Of The Impact Of A Spiritual Growth Campaign (40 Days Of Purpose) On Individual Spiritual Development, Debra K. Burton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study evaluated the impact that the 40 Days of Purpose had on personal spiritual development of the participants. The experimental group was comprised of 163 volunteers recruited from three different churches participating in the 40 Days of Purpose. Two of the churches, a Baptist and an Assembly of God are located in a small town in East Texas, while the remaining Baptist church is located in a metropolitan city in North Carolina. The control group consisted of 46 recruited volunteers from a Baptist church that was not participating in the 40 Days of Purpose. Spiritual growth was measured using …

A Model For Computational Undergraduate Research Using Molecular Orbital Theory And A Low-Cost Unix Workstation, David Raymond Dinsmore

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research study used current molecular orbital theory and UNIX desktop computer workstations running the PSI suite of programs developed by Dr F. Schaefer group of the Center for Computational Quantum Chemistry at the University of Georgia to investigate the structures and characteristics of several hypothetical hydrogen-lithium compounds. The researcher, a physics professor with no background in computational quantum chemistry, and very limited chemistry background, experienced this project much like an upper-level undergraduate science or mathematics major. Approaching the research experience from the perspective of an undergraduate research student, the researcher was able to gain unique insight into the undergraduate …

Historical Perspectives Current Operation And Future Projections For Temple Baptist College, Layne Carter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation study will propose to present the rich historical past of Temple Baptist College, as well as the current operations and future projections. The trend in current academia is to move away from biblical principles and established moral standards. Many Christian schools too, have succumbed to the pressure of the age. This dissertation was written not merely to record the history of Temple Baptist College (which was never done before) but also to provide standards and guidance to other small Christian institutions. The information recorded in this dissertation was collected after researching archived records and minutes of several Board …